no person was admitted to be present with them, not her own Commissioners for the treaty, or any of the Senators, for the secresy of the business, which was much to the liking of Whitelocke, and furtherance of the treaty. They had much discourse upon the new articles, to the same effect as formerly; and Lagerfeldt said he doubted not but the Queen would in a short time conclude it to Whitelocke's satisfaction.

After this discourse Whitelocke inquired of Lagerfeldt how the Chancellor's health was, and what physicians were about him. Lagerfeldt said he was still sick of his ague, and had no physician attending him but one who had been a chirurgeon in the army, and now constantly lived in the house with the Chancellor as a humble friend, sat at his table, and had a pension from him of four hundred rix-dollars a year; who had some good receipts, especially for the stone, which agreed with the Chancellor's constitution, which this chirurgeon only studied and attended. And so it was generally in this great and large country. Whitelocke met with no doctor of physic or professed physician in any town or country, not any attending the person of the Queen herself; but there are many good women, and some private persons, who use to help people that are diseased by some ordinary known medicines; and their diseases are but few, their remedies generally communicated, and they live many of them to a great

age.

despatches

land.

Whitelocke received letters from England, which Letters and were always welcome, especially bringing the good from Engnews of the welfare of his relations. He received respectful letters from the Earl of Clare, Sir Charles Woolsey, Colonel Sydenham, the Master of the Rolls,

very

Mr. Reynolds, Lord Commissioner Lisle, and divers others, besides his usual letters from his wife, Mr. Hall, Mr. Cokaine, his brothers-in-law, and divers other friends. In those from Thurloe he had the particular passages of the Dutch treaty, and that he believed the peace with them would be concluded; and in those letters Thurloe also writes thus:

"Your Excellence's of the 27th of January I communicated to his Highness and to the Council, who, although they do not by this transaction of the Queen very well understand her intentions as to the peace, yet they are very much satisfied with the management thereof on your part, and commit the issue thereof unto the Lord, who will either bless your endeavours by bringing things to a desired issue, or otherwise dispose of this affair to the glory of God, the good of the Commonwealth, and the comfort of yourself who are employed in it.

"The Council, upon consideration of the whole matter, did not find it necessary to give you any further directions, nor did his Highness, especially seeing his last letters but one did express his sense upon that treaty, and nothing hath occurred since which hath given any cause of alteration.

"The French King and Cardinal, seeing themselves disappointed at the Hague as to their inclusion in that treaty, endeavour to effect it here; and to that purpose the Cardinal sent hither one Monsieur Le Baas to congratulate his Highness, and to assure him of the friendship of the King; and that, if he pleased, the King would banish Charles Stuart and his family out of his dominions, and proclaim the Protector in France; and hath since sent a Commissioner to Monsieur Bordeaux to be Ambassador.

"The Spanish Ambassador doth also very much court his Highness and the present Government. Don Francisco Romero, Captain of the Guard to the Archduke, arrived here the last night, to congratulate his Highness in the Duke's name.

"I have moved the Council in the two papers your Excellence trusted to my care. What order the Council hath

been pleased to make thereupon you will see by their enclosed order, and my care shall not be wanting to see an effectual execution thereof.

"Your Excellence's humble and faithful servant,

"24th February, 1653.”

"Jo. THURloe.

The Council's Order was this:

"AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHITEHALL.

Council on

"On consideration of several papers which came enclosed Order in in a letter from the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke, and the Swedish were this day presented to the Council, containing some prizes. complaints made by divers of the subjects of her Majesty of Sweden, viz. concerning a Swedish galliot called the 'Land of Promise,' and a ship called the 'Castle of Stockholm,' and certain goods taken out of the 'Gold Star' of Hamburg, and claimed as belonging to Alexander Ceccony, gentleman, principal officer of the Queen's wardrobe: Ordered, That several copies of the said papers be forthwith sent to the Judges of the Court of Admiralty and to the Commissioners for Prize Goods, to whom it is respectively referred, diligently to inform themselves of the true state of the said ship and goods, and what proceedings have been had in the Court of Admiralty or Prize Office touching the same or any of them, and thereof to make report to the Council. And it is especially recommended and given in charge to the said Judges that both in these and in all matters concerning the said Queen or her subjects, which do or shall depend before them, all right and fair respect be given upon all occasions; and that whatsoever of the said goods belonging to her Majesty's servant they shall discover, be by them ordered to be forthwith delivered.

"Ex W. JESSOP,

"Clerk of the Council."

Reports of the negotiation to England.

This Order Whitelocke caused to be translated into Latin, and sent copies of it to the Chancellor, to Grave Eric, to Mr. Ceccony, and to others; and he showed it to the Queen, and all were pleased with it, hoping for further fruit of it, and esteeming Whitelocke to be in good credit with his superiors.

March 24, 1653.

Whitelocke made his despatches for England, and wrote above twenty letters to several of his friends there, finding it grateful to them to receive letters. from him at such a distance; and that answers to letters are expected, and ill taken if neglected; that they cost little, and please much. He was hindered by Woolfeldt, who made a long visit to him, though upon the post day; at which he wondered, in regard Woolfeldt had been himself often employed as a public minister, and knew so well what belonged to the making of despatches.

To recover his lost time, Whitelocke (as he often used when business pressed him) wrote one letter himself and dictated two others to his secretaries at the same time, and so, in effect, wrote three letters at once. The letter which he now wrote to Secretary Thurloe contained his whole transactions since his last letters to him; and the conclusion of the letter, showing the state of his negotiation, was this::

"This afternoon Grave Eric came to me from the Queen, who desired that my audience, appointed this day, might be put off till the holidays were past, and said that by reason of the sacrament upon Easter Day, this day and tomorrow were to be spent in preparation thereunto; but he

told me that she commanded him to receive my objections to his articles in writing, the which I gave him according to that large paper which you will receive herewith. We had very much debate upon the particulars, much of it according to what I have mentioned before.

"I have thought fit to send you this large paper that you might see the whole business before you at one view, and it hath cost me some pains. I shall continue my best endeavours to bring your business to a good effect. I am put to struggle with more difficulties than I could expect, and their policy here is great. One may soon be overtaken with long, intricate, and new proposals; but I hope God will direct me, whom I do seek, and shall not wilfully transgress my instructions.

"When I speak with the Queen, she seems to be satisfied; and then some of the grandees seek to persuade her to a contrary opinion, and to keep me from her, and lay objections in the way to cross it (for we want no enemies here). I then endeavour again to satisfy the Queen, and break through their designs as well as I can; to do which, and to get a good despatch against all opposition, and yet so as not to supplicate anything from them, nor in the least to prostitute the honour of my Lord Protector and of the Commonwealth, or to prejudice them, is a task hard enough for a great favourite, much more hard for a stranger, and whose differing principles may render him the less acceptable. However, I shall hope that the Lord will direct me for the best, whether they agree with my judgement or not.

"If I can conclude with them, I shall presently be upon my return, and hope within a week or two to receive his Highness's order to give me leave to come home. What I cannot consent to or obtain at present, I presume they will be contented to have referred to a future agreement, wherein there can be no prejudice (in my humble opinion) to your affairs.

"I ask your pardon for my tedious informations, wherein